Roof covering



Jan. 6, 1948. 1. P. WHITEHOUSE ROOF COVERING Filed July 15, 1945 5 sheets-s eet 1 V INV I'X 'TOR. IEV/NG R WH/l'ff/OUSE A TTOE'NEYS Jan. 6, 1948.

l. P. WHITEHOUSE ROOE COVERING Filed July 13, 1945- 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 r Y INVENTOR.

l/E V/N6 7 WHITE-HOUSE ATTORNEYS Jan. 6, 1948. l. P. WHITEHOUSE ROOF COVERING Filed July 13, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet s i i iigdo A rrozew ys Patented Jan. 6, 1948 noor COVERING Irving P. Whitehouse, South Euclid, Ohio, assignor to Republic Steel Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application July 13, 1945, Serial No. 604,903

Claims.

The present invention relates enerally to building construction and more particularly to enameled sheet metal shingles, ridge caps and gable ends for the roof of a building.

According to the present invention, roof members which may consist of composite material and span the space between two or more adjacent rafters, are provided with enameled sheet metal coverings embodying the present invention, Certain of these coverings, which will be referred to hereinafter as shingles, are adapted to embrace the lower edges of the roof members and to press tightly against the upper surfaces thereof, and to overlap one another at their side edges so as to resist displacement by wind and to prevent water from penetrating into the space between the shingles and roof members. Certain of these coverings, which will hereinafter be referred to as gable ends are adapted to embrace the lower edges of roof members at the gable ends of the roof and to extend down past the side edges of the adjacent roof members so as to resist displacement by wind and to prevent water from entering into the space between the gable ends and the roof members, Certain of the coverings, which will be referred to hereinafter as ridge caps extend across the ridge of the roof and are secured to the ridge to prevent entrance of Water into the space between the ridge caps and the shingles of roof members on either side of the ridge and to resist the action of wind.

While the present invention is particularly suited to roof construction, it is not limited thereto for some of the members, such as shingles and gable ends, may also be used with siding. Accordingly, the term building member as used herein is intended to mean and include not only roof members but also side wall members of a build- The present invention will be better understood by those skilled in the art from the following description and the drawings which accompany this specification and in which,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a roof embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a roof member and shingles of the present invention assembled therewith, one of the shingles being shown by dotted lines in the position which it occupies during the assembly of the shingle with the roof member;

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are, respectively, top plan and side and lower end elevational views of the shingle of Figs. 1 and 2;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the shin- 2 gle of Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the full lines showing the curvature of the shingle before application to a roof member and the dotted lines showing the shape of such shingle when fully assembled with a roof member;

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are, respectively, top plan and side and end elevational views of a gable end for the lefthand side of a roof;

Figures 10 and 11 are top plan and side elevational views of an end ridge cap;

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on lines I2 -l2 of Fig. 11; and,

Figure 13 is an end elevational view of an intermediate ridge cap.

Figures 1 and 2 show a portion of a roof in which there are roof members I long enough to rest on and span the space between two or more adjacent rafters (not shown) and of considerable width. These members I are arranged in overlapping courses. Each roof member I is provided with a shingle 2 which embraces the lower edge thereof and extends upwardly over its outer exposed surfaces nearly to the upper edge of the roof member. These shingles 2 overlap each other along their sides and are attached to the roof members I as by nails 3 which are driven thru the shingles near their upper edges. The roof of Fig. 1 is also provided with gable ends 4 which embraces the lower edges of the roof members and shingles 2 and extend down past the ends of members I. These gable ends are secured to the roof as by nails 6. The roof of Fig. 1 also includes ridge caps 1 and 8. Intermediate caps l overlap the top roof members I on either side of the ridge and extend across the ridge and are secured to the ridge pole as by screws 9. End ridge caps 8 are like caps I except that they include flanges which extend down alongside of the gable ends and are secured against the ends of the roof members as by nails 6. The end ridge caps have securing means such as screws'9 extending therethru into the ridge pole.

Shingles embodying the present invention are better shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive. these shingles consists of sheet metal A covered with vitreous enamel B and comprises a, body portion l5 which has a, channel shaped lower edge 16, an upper edge I! which is bent back upon its under surface, and one side edge 18 which is bent back on its under surface. The channel edge l6 tapers gradually from side edge l8 to the opposite side edge. The top edge I! and side edge I8 are strengthened and reinforced by being bent back on themselves and hence can withstand the forces of wind without tearing or splitting.

Each of p 3 The other side edge need not be reinforced for it is covered by a shingle or gable end and is thus protected from the action of the wind. The body portion I of shingles 2 is curved on an axis parallel to its lower edge so that the under surface, that is, the one engageable with the roof member I, is convex, as is better illustrated by the full lines in Fig. 6, and also by 'thedottedxlines -e: in Fig. 2. The metal is formed into the shape shown in Fig. 6 and is then enameled. Since nor-.10 mally there is no bending of the enameled shingle on a short radius, there is no danger of then"? enamel cracking or flaking off duringuse, The flexing required to flatten the curved bodyr'por tion is not on a radius short enough to crack or dislodge the enamel.

When the shingles 2 are to be attachedzto roof: .1 members I, the channel edge I6 of such a..shin-. s gle is slipped onto the lower edge of theroof member so that it embraces the latter and brings the convex surfaceof body portion -I5 into con---- tact withthe outer surfaceof the'roof member I: Then the'curved body portion' I5 is flexed--by-'-' bringing the upper edge of the shingle'into Contact with the member I. Thereupon nails 3 are; driven thru holes providedin thei'upper endof the shingle into the roof member. to holdithe' two in assembled .position. Such flexing results'in flattening out the curvedbody portion I5 into substantially the fullline'position shown in Fig '6. and the full line positionshownin Fig. 2 as a result of the exertion of pressure .on the shingle and the resistance ofiered theretorby thelroofh, membenl. The result .of thisI-flex'ing. is close: engagement. of the tshingle,and. roof. .member.. which-.preventsingress. .of .wind therebetween U whichmighttend to dislodge the shingles and also insuressrnaintenance of the flatness of the shin-w. gles on the roof over long periodsof time.

After oneshin'glez hasbeensov appliedito a roof 1 member-I, another similar shinglemaybe app ied 2 in a-isimilar manner except that. it overlaps: one edgee'of thealready :flattenedeshingle. andwthe largerrendof its channeli is telescoped over b118,": smaller endof the previously laidshingle. a. As a". 4 result;of the flattening "of the shin-gles;.the-in-=-- turnedsidetedge -.I 8 of an overiyingshingie:presses 1- tightlyzagainst" theioutertsurfaceaof the under; lyingeshinglezzancl "prevents utheringresszof Wind: and water between :the: ioverlapping portions :of r 1 thetwo shingles and all the Jshingles13lie flation .2; the'roof-m'ember'.

The tapering of the channelxedges; I16 makes'sit. i possible to assemble t'he shingles withroof members of different lengths" without --crackin'gl the. enamel; or outting=the shingles. The taper as sufiicient to permit a nesting or telescoping of one shingle with another up to as muchas about 12"" of overlap.--

The gable nds4-=areshown=in some'detai-l in Figs. 7, 8 and Qi In these figureseach-gable' 'end-*-- consists of sheet metal'A' covered-with vitreous' enamel'B. Each sheet includes a body-portion" 20, a'lower channel-shaped end '21 to' embrace'the 5 loweredge of an'underlying' shin'gle 2; an upper," underturnedand reinforcededge 24 and'a-flan'geyportion-'22 which is provided with *inturned-rein forced'edges 23 and which extendsdownpast the ends' of roof members I; Part-25 of the flange portion 22 is bent inwardly-to lie fagainst the channeLedge'ZI and is preferably welded'thereto, as indicated at 26: .It will"be understood that theigableends are made in rightsiandleftsfor the right and left gable ends of the roof. Figs. 7' 75 to 9 show a righthand gable end, the lefthand gable ends being the complements thereof.

When the shingles 2 have been laid on one course of roof members I the gable ends 4 may be assembled therewith by slipping the channelshaped edge 2| thereof into position embracing theechannellportion I6 of the .end shingle and with. flange portion 22 bearingagainst theend of the adjacent roof members I. Nails 6 are then driven thru holes provided in the flanges 22 to hold the gable ends 5 in assembled position. Then the 'nextmourse of roof members I is laid with the.loweredgetthereofroverlapping the upper end of shinglesikandtgable ends 4.

'The'ridge' caps of the present invention are shown-in somedetail in Figures 10 to 13 inclusive. Figs. 10, 11 and 12 show an end ridge cap 8 which consists of a metal sheet A covered with vitreous enamel B. Eaohasheet includes a body portionlssll and a. fian'ge.r3:l..i The edgestof the body portion 30. ai'ezreinforced :by being :bentf back; on the body portiongsas at 32 and 32cz;' Iand1.the:1v flange 3| is rein-forced by being bent back-on itself; as at 33'.-=' =Flahge-3I is s'plit' into'-three '--portions-to permit-bending-of the body' portion to conform to the 'pitch" of the roof on opposite sides i1 of the ridgeand to provide-a portion 34 to overlie theridge poler. When the body'portion 30 is so bentfthethree'portions of the flan'ge-31 assume 1 an overlapping position, as shown by the'fulland dotted lines'in FigL'll, and maybe connected to each other as by welding at the point indicated at 35.. "It will be understood that the endridge caps 8' arealikei- Each. intermediate. ridge .capil. comprises an. enameledsheet.metaLbody portion 36 with 111-... turnedsreinforced edges-31 .and, when bent .as shown in Fig. 13, body=portion 36 has an intere mediate portion-38 to overlie the ridge-pole and two-inclined-sides.to lie closeto the shingles 2 on either side of the ridge.. --The caps. I are=bent-. at suchan acute: angle-that whendrawn down-by securingszmeans' extending'rthru portions38 into the fridge ::the edges .31 will be Epressed tightly: againshthettopsuriaceseof the shingleson each side'bf the ridge by spring pressure in the .Cap,: thus' pre-venting 'ingressof water or wind between w the caps and underlying shingles.-

When the courses of roof members I, shingles 2 and-"gable ends-4 have bee'n laid up to the ridge pole;-the ridge caps 'I-'and 8' are securedin posi-- tion; Starting near one gable end of the roof the first'cap "Iis' laid and secured; in place as by screwsfiz "The'n the'next one'is laid-with one" side: oyerlappinga previouslylaid cap 1'. After the "intermediate caps have all been so laid; 'the end caps 8 are laid and secured in position as by screwsllarid nailsfil' Anyv suitable'enamel: may be employed on the coveringsZ; 4', 'I' and 8 andLthe enamel "may have different colors,.as desired: 1

It has also'been indicated thatthe present invention is applicabiet'o building 'walls' other than roofs, for example, sidewalls; It will be obvious to thosezskilleddn the 'art;that' siding,.for example of theiship=lap typeymay be covered with" members corresponding to shingles'2, and that corners "of the buildingmay be covered by meme bers like gable ends 4. 'In such. cases the ridge; caps .are not required;

Having 'thus described myrinventionnso that; others.skilled in the..art.may.beableto undere... "stand'and practice the same, I state that what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is defined in what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A shingle comprising a sheet of metal having a body portion curved on an axis parallel to the lower edge thereof to provide a concave surface to engage a building member, a channel-shaped bottom edge portion parallel to said axis, and a vitreous enamel coating on the surfaces of said sheet which are to be exposed when the shingle is in use.

2. A shingle comprising a sheet of metal having a body portion curved on an axis parallel to the lower edge thereof to provide a convex surface to engage a building member, and a channel shaped bottom edge portion tapering gradually from one side edge to the other edge of the body portion, and a vitreous enamel coating on the surfaces of said sheet which are to be exposed when the covering is in use.

3. A shingle comprising a sheet of metal having a body portion curved on an axis parallel to the lower edge thereof to provide a convex surface to engage a building member, a reinforced side edge, and a channel shaped bottom edge portion tapering gradually from the side edge to the opposite edge of the body portion, and a vitreous enamel coating on the surfaces of said sheet which are to be exposed when the covering is in use.

4. A shingle comprising a sheet of metal having a body portion curved on an axis parallel to the lower edge thereof to provide a convex surface to engage a building member, a reinforced top edge, a reinforced side edge, and a channel shaped bottom edge portion tapering gradually from the reinforced side edge to the opposite edge 6 of the body portion, and a vitreous enamel coating on the surfaces of said sheet which are to be exposed when the covering is in use.

5. Roof structure comprising a roof member having a fiat top surface, a shingle embracing the lower edge of said member and attached at its upper edges to said member andcomprising an enameled sheet of metal having a channel-shaped edge portion embracing the lower edge of said roof member, a curved body portion flexed into substantially a plane by engagement of its convex side with the opposed fiat surface of said member, and means retaining said shingle and roof member in such assembled relation.

IRVING P. WHITEHOUSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 158,123 Ravoux Dec. 22, 1874 632,691 Bates Sept. 12, 1899 720,893 Charlebois Feb. 17, 1903 942,577 Lunan Dec. 7, 1909 1,428,169 Laist Sept. 5, 1922 1,519,350 Belding Dec. 16, 1924 1,653,847 Greenstreet Dec. 27, 1927 1,190,081 Bailey July 4, 1916 1,971,932 Guiterman Aug. 28, 1934 2,037,560 Bettinger Apr. 14, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 14,395 Great Britain 1903 664,865 France 1929 

